Senior forward Rob Kurz is entering his third season as a starting member of the Notre Dame men's basketball team.

Oct. 24, 2007

The Notre Dame men's basketball team has been picked by the league's coaches to finish ninth in the 16-team BIG EAST Conference, which again is expected to rank among the nation's premier conferences for the 2007-08 season. The BIG EAST will feature an 18-game league schedule this season, with the Irish set to do battle in the league while being led by senior forward and three-year starter Rob Kurz. The team's other top returners include a pair of 2006-07 BIG EAST all-rookie team selections - guard Tory Jackson and forward Luke Harongody - while junior guard Kyle McAlarney also returns and could combine with Jackson to form one of the BIG EAST's top backcourts.

Georgetown and Louisville are the co-favorites to win the regular-season title, based on the voting in the annual BIG EAST preseason coaches poll.